On this day 12/12/12, I have heard much media discussion concerning coincidences of number. My own thoughts continue to examine the multiple meanings of "identity." Here is a lovely tanka by Izumi Shikibu (b 976?) that focuses on the importance of one:
This heart,
longing for you,
breaks
to a thousand pieces--
I wouldn't lose one.
From The Ink Dark Moon: Love Poems by Ono no Komachi and Izumi Shikibu, Women of the Ancient Court of Japan (Vintage Books, 1990), translated by Jane Hirshfield with Mariko Aratani.
Showing posts with label Izumi Shikibu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Izumi Shikibu. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
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